Scrapbook Software WINNER!

I'm pleased to announce the winner of the My Memories Suite v2

Digital Scrapbook Software giveaway:

Amy~*

I used Random.org, which generated the random number 2...so Amy~* wins.

Congratulations Amy!

Remember, if you didn't win, don't worry.

You can purchase your copy of My Memories Suite at a discount.

Yay!

Simply copy & paste this unique coupon code at checkout: STMMMS46560.

This code provides a $10 discount off the purchase of the My Memories Suite v2 Scrapbook software and a $10 coupon for the MyMemories.com store - a $20 value!

I'd like to thank MyMemories.com for providing me with 2 copies of their wonderful digital scrapbooking software - one for me to review and one to give away to a reader.

 

Disclosure: I received a free copy of the MyMemories Suite software for the purpose of reviewing, and a free copy to use in this giveaway. Although I received free items, as always, my opinions are completely my own. Also, if you use the provided "coupon code" to order your own software, not only will you receive $20 in savings, but I'll receive a $20 finder's fee.

Happy Thanksgiving Dear Readers

I just want to take a moment to tell you all that

I wish you a very blessed Thanksgiving.

I'm grateful for your readership.

The Lynds gathered around the table

May you and yours see God's blessings all around you

this day and every day!

A "silly shot" of us!



A Professional Baker's Take on Low Carb Goodies

I usually review THINGS: foods, beauty products, household goods, etc., but today I'm stepping out into new territory...I'm recommending a BLOG.

I found this blog via an Atkins "share" on my Facebook today.

I'm so glad I clicked!

It is a treasure trove of fabulous, high quality, low carb recipes that I'm sure to refer to over & over. If you live "low carb", I'll bet you will too!

Tickle My Sweet Tooth

Candice is a fellow low-carber, having lost 83 lbs since she started Atkins on January 3rd 2010. She's also a baker by trade. This girl knows what she's doing!

~Here are a few recipes that really spoke to me~

the essence of chocolate comfort food:

Candice's Low Carb Almond Flour Brownies

birthday coming up? try these:

Candice's Low Carb Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes with Whipped Fudge Frosting

need a special dessert for a gathering? how about:

Candice's Low Carb Chocolate Almond Mousse Pie

my idea of truffle-like indulgence:

Candice's Low Carb Double Chocolate Cookie Dough Balls

one thing I miss from time to time is crackers:

Candice's Low Carb Italian Garlic Cheese Crackers

...and there's MUCH more!

If you are a fellow low-carber, please check out this wonderful site.

I'm certain you'll find several recipes that "speak to you", too!

A BIG thank you to Candice for her time, effort, and expertise...and kindness to share her wonderful recipes with the world!



Shop Small! Small Business Saturday is Coming

I want to encourage you all to show your local pride and
help fuel the economy by Shopping Small THIS Saturday...on
Small Business Saturday.

Yep,  that's Nov. 26. But don't stop there. Why not try it throughout
the entire holiday season? Consider helping them by going to the shop around the corner.  Find the stores and restaurants near you that are small and independently owned and give them your support this Christmas Season.

I became aware of Shop Small Saturday through a focus group I belong to called Vocalpoint.

Info on Small Business Saturday from Vocalpoint:

About Small Business Saturday:
First there was Black Friday, then Cyber Monday.
Now there is Small Business Saturday on Nov. 26^th, a
day dedicated to supporting the small businesses that

fuel local economies and invigorate our communities.

What do you think about it?

Will you give it a try?

Drop me a line about your feelings on it.

Scrapbookin' Made Easy - GIVEAWAY!

I'm not a scrapbooker. I tried to be one, once upon a time. I just didn't have the time. It's not something I enjoyed enough to make time to do. I admire the beautiful pages scrapbookers create, and the lovely albums that result from their hard work...but me...scrapbook?

Enter My Memories Suite Scrapbook software...the entirely new (to me, at least) world of digital scrapbooking.

No tedious cutting, or measuring, or stencil usage.

No bags full of expensive tools & papers & stacks of pictures awaiting my time & patience...mocking me and accusing me of lack-of-follow-through.

Instead, I can simply click, drag, and use my creativity to embellish the digital photos I already have loaded on my computer. It's SO simple (and very fun)!
Oh, the control-freak in me LOVES it.

Here's a sample of a photo album page I created in very little time:

And here's a sample using the software to make a cool party invitation:

It would be so easy to use the software to create all kinds of things, aside from photo albums.

Maybe...Christmas cards? Place mats or cards? Birth announcements? 

Wedding announcements? Seminar handouts? Science project display sheets?

Posters for events? Posters for candidates such as homecoming queen, class prez?

I've only scratched the surface here.

Would YOU like to join the world of digital scrapbooking?

My Memories Suite has not only given me a copy of their fab software to try out and review, but they've offered a FREE copy to one The Real Mom Review reader, too! That's a $39.99 value.

How awesome is that?!?!

The Giveaway winner will be chosen via random.org, on Monday, Nov. 28th at 9pm Central.

If you don't win, don't worry. You can purchase your copy of My Memories Suite v2 at a discount. Yay! Simply copy & paste this unique coupon code at checkout: STMMMS46560. This code provides a $10 discount off the purchase of the My Memories Suite v2 Scrapbook software and a $10 coupon for the MyMemories.com store - a $20 value!

To enter:

(mandatory entry method)

You must be a GFC (Google Friend Connect) follower of this blog to enter the giveaway. You can do that on the right side bar of this page. If your comment is chosen, but you aren't a GFC follower, your entry will NOT count.

+1 Then, go to MyMemories.com 

and pick out one of the pages/digital scrapbooking kits that you like best. Come back here and tell me in a comment. Be sure to leave your email addy in the comment.

Extra entries:

(be sure to come back & comment for each of these extra entries, & please leave email addy in each comment)

+1 Like The Real Mom Review on Facebook (top left side bar)

+1 Like MyMemories on Facebook ( My Memories on Facebook )

+1 Like this post on Facebook (top left side bar)

+1 Leave a new comment on any other post on this blog

+1 Subscribe to this blog via email (very bottom of this page)

Rules:

Must be US resident. Leave a separate comment for each entry method, telling what you did. The more comments/entries, the better your odds of winning, of course. Be sure to leave your email addy in each of your comments so I can contact you if you win. Can be in format "janedoe at yahoo dot com" to avoid spam bots. Mandatory entry is required before any other entries will count. If I cannot verify your entry, it will not count. Winner will be chosen using random.org. Winner will have exactly 48 hours to respond to my notification email or a new winner will be picked, no exceptions. By entering you agree to the rules of the contest.

Disclosure: I received a free copy of the MyMemories Suite software for the purpose of reviewing, and a free copy to use in this giveaway. Although I received free items, as always, my opinions are completely my own. Also, if you use the provided "coupon code" to order your own software, not only will you receive $20 in savings, but I'll receive a $20 finder's fee.

Can YOU Shake Your Booty? Wii Zumba 2

I can!

And with a little more practice (okay, maybe a LOT more), I might look skilled while doing it.

So, you'd have to live under a rock to not know about the wave of popularity that Zumba has recently ridden. But maybe, like me, you're not keen to shake your moneymaker (and fall out from exhaustion or smack someone next to you with the errant hand) in front of an audience. That's where the Wii comes in.

With Wii Zumba 2, you can have loads of fun, get heart-pounding exercise, and sweat off some pounds while tightening up the parts of you that ought NOT be jiggly. And you can do it without an audience. Aaaaand, you can learn how to dance like a Latin star if you apply yourself. Bonus!

Oh, and you don't have pay for ongoing classes, babysitters, nor gas to drive to classes, nor fancy workout wear (unless you just want to!). These are definite positives in a harsh economy where many of us don't have a dime to spare.

Another positive: for the cost of one game, multiple people can take advantage of it, while lessons would require you to pay for each participant. So the family could get involved. I learned quickly that my daughter likes to Zumba. So it's an easy way to get the kids to exercise!

And yes, if you follow the on-screen example, you will really get a workout. There are different intensity levels, so you can work your way up. There's even a tutorial to learn the basic moves.

There are tons of fun songs, and as you do better & better, you unlock new songs.

One thing to beware: this game is rated "T" because of mild lyrics. So, you might hear a few "iffy" lyrics on some songs. I haven't heard anything that bad so far, but I haven't heard every song, either. If you find a song you don't like, you could always skip it.

Houseparty.com sent me a Zumba 2 game for Wii , which includes 1 hip belt, along with 3 extra hip belts to party with. I also received some coupons for $5 off Zumba 2 at GameStop (exp 11/29/11), coupons for free 7-day pass to Zumba classes at participating 24 Hour Fitness clubs, no strings attached, and coupons for 30% off Zumba apparel and accessories over $99 at Zumba.com (exp 6/20/12).

We had a lot of fun at my Zumba 2 House Party. I do have some of the coupons left over.

If you'd like some, please comment below. You must be a GFC follower.

Be sure to include your email addy in the comment so I can email you for the address you want me to send them to.

If you have a Zumba 2 tell us what you think about it.

More Humane, Quality Coffee?

I love coffee.

I have a "most loved" coffee.

I drink 2-4 cups per day, depending on a number of factors.

I am willing to spend more money on quality coffee.

My fave: Starbucks Sumatra, Whole Bean, freshly ground by me.

My 2nd fave: Starbucks Cafe Verona, Whole Bean, freshly ground by me.

So, when BzzAgent sent me 2 packs from Green Mountain Coffee to try out, I was skeptical. They sent me 2 packages:

A Limited Edition Seasonal ground coffee with a light roast - Pumpkin Spice

and

their Organic House Blend ground coffee with a medium roast

First, a few facts about Green Mountain Coffee is in order.

According to BzzAgent, Green Mountain Coffee:

• has the largest selection of Fair Trade Certified coffees in the US
• is a division of Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc., which is the largest roaster of Fair Trade Certified Coffee in the WORLD
• has been supporting Fair Trade for over a decade
• is the leading brand in K-Cup portion packs for Keurig brewers and is also available in ground or whole bean bags
• is available in most grocery stores nationwide or online at www.greenmountaincoffee.com

So, what the heck is "Fair Trade", anyway? Here's the info I got from BzzAgent:

• Fair Trade provides a direct link between farmers & Green Mountain Coffee, eliminating the middlemen, known as "coyotes".
• Farmers are paid a fair price for their harvest...guaranteed a minimum price for their coffee, and if market prices exceed the current minimum, they receive the current market price plus a separate payment called a  premium.
• Farming families and communities are supported...they belong to a co-op that votes to determine how to invest their Fair Trade premiums to best benefit their own communities' funding projects for things like schools, roads, health clinics, and safe drinking water.
• Sustainable farming practices are promoted. To become "Fair Trade Certified", farmers must adhere to a number of environmental standards, like protecting water resources, and restricting the use of pesticides & certain chemicals.
• Working conditions are bettered because strict labor laws and practices are followed to protect workers.

So, how does it taste, you ask?

Pretty dang good, actually. I was impressed.

If you like flavored coffee, you would most likely enjoy the Pumpkin Spice coffee. It smells divine and tastes quite good. It has a nice flavor, although I personally would have enjoyed a more intense "coffee" flavor. I had given a sample to a friend and she said she mixed hers with regular coffee. That seemed like a good idea for getting the java intensity I wanted with the nice Pumpkin Spice flavor, so I tried it and liked it best that way.

I'm also quite pleased with the Organic House Blend. The flavor is nice, with no bitterness...none of that "burnt" flavor you run across with cheaper brands. I detest that burnt quality, by the way, which is why I pay a little more for better quality coffee. I am happy with the House Blend. Oh, and it smells super-great. Even my teen who can't stand the smell of coffee for some weird reason and complains about the smell regularly, said that this coffee was different...that it smelled "good"...and could he try some? Sure!

I don't know if I'll be a life-long convert. I really love my Starbucks. But I do have another trusted option, now. And if I can get Green Mountain for less moola, I might just change.

Thanks BzzAgent & Green Mountain Coffee. That's one fine coffee!

Giveaway

If you want to give Green Mountain a try, I have 9 coupons for $1 off any type of Green Mountain Coffee. Expires 12/31/11

All you need to do is be a "Google Friend Connect" follower (right hand side of page), OR subscribe to the blog via email (waaay down at the bottom of the page), OR fan The Real Mom Review on Facebook (top left hand side of page). Leave me a comment below telling me which one you did, the identity you used, and leave me your email so I can email you for your address to send you the coupon.

Oh, and as always, feel free to share your opinion of this product, too!